JESSICA van VONDEREN: He's one of Australia's most decorated surf life savers but you've probably never heard his name Neville de Mestre is the oldest ironman competitor in Australia and this week he showed his younger rivals a clear pair of heels at the national surf life saving championships on the gold coast. Tom Forbes reports.

TOM FORBES: North Burleigh surf life saver Neville de Mestre is not your average 74-year-old.

NEVILLE de MESTRE, VETERAN IRONMAN: The challenge and the fun of competing and meeting up with people that you've met over the years.

(OLD PHOTOGRAPH OF NEVILLE de MESTRE)

TOM FORBES: He joined the movement as a nipper in the 1950s and has been a clubbie for the past 63 years. This week he lined up for his umpteenth ironman race at Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships at North Kirra.

(FOOTAGE OFR IRONMAN RACE)

TOM FORBES: Nev's ski leg is his Achilles heel and he rounded the cans in last place. But the retired academic learnt early to focus on his strengths and he caught up with the pack at the start of the swim.

(FOOTAGE OF NEVILLE de MESTRE LEADING IRONMAN RACE)

TOM FORBES: Four training sessions in the pool each week gave the veteran ironman the edge and he extended his lead heading into the board leg.

(MORE FOOTAGE OF NEVILLE de MESTRE IN BOARD LEG)

TOM FORBES: Loyal handler Barry Miley kept a close eye on Neville as he maintained his technique and composure in the small but tricky conditions.

(MORE FOOTAGE OF IRONMAN RACE)

TOM FORBES: On the run home the North Burleigh life saver showed his skill when a fell from his board but somehow managed to stay on the wave. In the end it was a comprehensive victory. Nev won his eighth ironman title his 43rd masters gold.

NEVILLE de MESTRE: The old legs they're not what they used to be you see.

TOM FORBES: Good sportsmanship is a trademark of the surf life saving fraternity and over the years Neville's developed a strong rivalry with Cronulla's Allan Metti.

ALLAN METTI, CRONULLA SLSC: Yeah no it was good fun it's good to catch up with these guys every year and try to beat them. Sometimes we do sometimes we don't.

NEVILLE de MESTRE: I like the fact that I just can keep going and can win medals but it's just the fun of being in it and my aim here this year was just to try and medal in every event even if I got third in every event I would have been happy but I've done better than that so I'm happier still. It's a bonus.

(FOOTAGE OF CONTESTANTS CROSSING FINISHING LINE)

TOM FORBES: Eventually everyone crossed the finishing line. Debriefing is another important part of racing.

BARRY MILEY, BOARD HANDLER: I think that's one of your best swims ever.

NEVILLE de MESTRE: That one?

BARRY MILEY: And your best result.

NEVILLE de MESTRE: Oh best result. Best swim no. Best swim no. Swim of the State was good.

TOM FORBES: Barry has been Neville's training partner and competition board handler for the past seven years.

NEVILLE de MESTRE: He's got a few jobs to do and he also advises sometimes. He'll tell me how far in front I am or what have I got to do.

BARRY MILEY: He's got a slow heart rate right. Cannot sprint could not sprint to save his life but just keeps going and going and going.

(MORE FOOTAGE OF MASTER SURF LIFE SAVING COMPETITION)

TOM FORBES: 18-hundred life savers competed in the Masters category which was held on the first two days of this year's championships. There are more than 6,000 surf lifesavers at the Australian Titles this week and they're all here to compete. Some finish at the pointy end of the field, others just make up the numbers but that's fine with them but what they all share is a comradely and a love of the sport the sport of surf life saving.

(FOOTAGE OF KURRAWA MEMORIAL SERVICE LAST YEAR)

TOM FORBES: But they've also shared in tragedy. Two teenagers have died during competition in the past three years. It shocked the organisation and its members. But it's also brought about change with an increased focus on safety.

(FOOTAGE OF NEVILLE de MESTRE ON SURFBOARD)

TOM FORBES: As a retired mathematics professor, Neville is playing a role in that too.

NEVILLE de MESTRE: I'm involved in a project with Bond University to try and get a competitor's surf safety index to decide when you go to a beach at a particular time on a certain day what are the hazards.

(MORE FOOTAGE OF SURF TITLES)

TOM FORBES: Next year the titles move to Perth and Neville says he'll be there too. Surf life saving is dominated by young, fit and healthy people but the 74 year old says he's proof you're never too old to go for gold.

NEVILLE de MESTRE: I hope they realise that you can do anything you want to within life as long as you keep yourself reasonably fit and you've got to be mentally fit as well as physically fit so just a nice balance.